In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits in Worcester, MA you must provide evidence that you suffer from a debilitating medical or mental condition that either renders you permanently disabled or prohibits you from working for at least one year.
You can submit your Worcester SSD application either online or in person at a local Massachusetts Social Security Administration (SSA) field office. When you do, the SSA will review your application to ensure you meet income, work credit and other eligibility requirements before forwarding your application to the Massachusetts Disability Determination Services (DDS) where a trained disability examiner will review your file and assesses your medical records to either substantiate or disprove your disability claim. The examiner uses information received from the medical sources you’ve listed in your file and can often get enough information from your treating physician to make a determination on your case.
During the fourth quarter of 2011, less than 40% of initial Social Security Disability claims in the state of Massachusetts were awarded. If your claim is denied, you do have the right to request that your case be reconsidered. When that happens, the SSA will send your file back to the DDS to be reviewed by a second disability examiner. If your claim is denied a second time –nearly 80% of all SSD appeals in Massachusetts are denied – you can request that your Worcester Social Security Disability case be heard by an administrative law judge out of the Springfield, MA hearing office. At the hearing level, nearly 50% of all Social Security Disability claims are approved.
Worcester Health Resources
In order to make a determination on your Worcester Social Security Disability case, the disability examiner will rely heavily on the medical information provided by your treating physician. As such, it is important that you begin receiving medical attention for your injury immediately and that you continue treatment throughout the course of your disability.
If you are denied disability benefits in Worcester because there is not enough information in your medical file to substantiate your disability claim, you will have a chance to submit any missing information during the reconsideration appeal. For assistance with free or reduced-cost health care in the Worcester area, there are several facilities which may be of service to you.
Worcester Free Care
64 Salisbury Street
Worcester, MA 01609
(508) 798-5171
Burncoat Health Center
135 Burncoat Street
Worcester, MA 01606
(508) 854-3266
Family Health Center of Worcester
170 Apricot Street
Worcester, MA 01603
(508) 799-3346
Helen A. Bowitch Health Center
23 North Ashland Street
Worcester, MA 01609
(508) 754-2860
Find an SSA Office Near Me
Worcester Mental Health Resources
Your mental health is as important to your overall well-being as your physical health. If you are dealing with a mental illness that keeps you from being able to perform the essential duties of a job, you may qualify for Social Security Disability in Worcester. Get the help of a licensed mental health professional in the Worcester area.
South Bay Mental Health Center
340 Main St # 383
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 791-4976
Community Healthlink
72 Jaques Ave.
Worcester, MA 01610-2480
508-860-1260
Behavioral Healthcare Services
198 Russell Street
Worcester, MA 01609
(508) 756-8003
Worcester Supplemental Benefits
The monthly Federal Social Security Disability benefit rate is $943 for an independent individual and $1,415 for a couple.
Your Worcester Social Security Disability Claim
Filing a Worcester Social Security Disability claim with the SSA can be time-consuming. To expedite that process, consider hiring a Worcester Social Security Disability attorney. Your SSD attorney may be able to help you to more easily navigate the process and keep you from making costly mistakes. Many Worcester SSD lawyers will only charge a fee if they win your case. If they do win, their fees are distributed from past due benefits that become payable to you or through a fee petition. Current rates are 25% of the past due award amount, with a maximum fee of $6,000. If you are interested in obtaining an evaluation of your Social Security Disability case, click the "Free Disability Evaluation" link at the top of the page for your free case evaluation or to get more information about hiring a Worcester disability attorney.
